Big Pushbutton Power Switch with Reverse Voltage Protection, HP

Product Code : 1834

The pushbutton power switch is a compact, solid-state power switch that features built-in reverse-voltage protection and is controlled by a momentary pushbutton: one push turns on power and another push turns it off. This is a patented design initially created for use in our own products as an alternative to bulky mechanical switches. Because the switched current does not flow through the mechanical switch, a large variety of small, low-power switches can be used to control a substantial amount of power. The use of momentary switches also allows multiple switches to be used in parallel to control the power to one load. This HP version operates from 4.5 V to 40 V and can deliver continuous currents up to around 16 A.

The board has a small pushbutton already installed and offers convenient points for connecting external pushbutton or tactile switches in parallel. It also offers several alternate pushbutton connection options that result in push-on-only or push-off-only operation, and additional inputs enable further power control options like allowing the load to turn off its own power, which can be beneficial when used with battery chemistries sensitive to over-discharging. The switch and control inputs control the state of a latching circuit that in turn controls a pair of power MOSFETs through which the main current flows.

Warning: Do not use this switch as an emergency cutoff or similar safety disconnect in applications where failure to cut power could lead to injury or property damage.

Please note: This switch has several drawbacks when compared to mechanical switches, so please be sure you fully understand this product before using it in your system.

Benefits and limitations

The Pushbutton Power Switch works well in its intended application as a DC power switch for small robots, but because it is fundamentally different from a mechanical power switch, the benefits and drawbacks of the components must be fully considered.

Benefits over mechanical switches:

Compact size

Reverse-voltage protection

Allows multiple (parallel) switches for improved user interface

Better turn-on characteristics than a bouncing mechanical switch

Limited LC spikes for low-resistance loads

Allows self-shutoff (OFF input)

Allows external digital device to control the power state (ON and CTRL inputs)

Breadboard and perfboard compatible (0.1″-pitch)

Drawbacks compared to mechanical switches:

Switch is one-directional (power applied to VOUT cannot be switched to VIN)

Limited operating voltage range

Switch can lose its state when power is disconnected (the switch typically defaults to being off when power is first applied, but it can default to being on near the upper end of the operating range)

Switches DC only (does not maintain state through power disruptions or excessive noise)

No complete isolation in off state

Specification:

Absolute max voltage: 40 V

Recommended operating voltage: 4.5 V to 32 V

MOSFET combined on resistance (max): 13 mΩ @ 4.5 V / 8.6 mΩ @ 10 V

Continuous current at 55°C(1): 6.0 A

Continuous current at 150°C(1): 16 A

Maximum current: 90 A

Current consumption in on state(2): ~120 μA/V

Current consumption in off state: < 0.2 μA

LED color: green

Size: 0.8″ × 1.0″ × 0.16″

Weight: 2.7 g

1 At 12 V with ambient temperature of 22°C in still air.
2 On state current is dominated by indicator LED; current is approximately proportional to input voltage.

Using the Pushbutton Power Switch

The simplest way to control the Pushbutton Power Switch is via its installed pushbutton: one push turns on power and another turns it off. Alternatively, a separate pushbutton, such as a remote panel-mounted unit, can be connected to the A and B pins and used instead. Multiple pushbuttons can be wired in parallel for multiple control points, and each of the parallel pushbuttons, including the one on the board itself, will be able to turn the switch on or off. The latching circuit performs some button debouncing, but pushbuttons with excessive bouncing (several ms) might not function well with this product.

More advanced control options are available through the button connection pins and three control inputs:

OFF: A high pulse (> 1 V) on this pin turns off the switch (e.g. allowing the target device to shut off its own power).

CTRL: This pin directly determines the state of the switch. A high pulse (> 1 V) on this pin turns on the switch; a low pulse (e.g. driving the pin low with a microcontroller output line or pushing a button connected from this pin to ground) turns the switch off. Leave this pin disconnected or floating when not trying to set the switch state. Note that this pin should not be driven high at the same time the “OFF” pin is driven high.

Each power node can be accessed through a large hole along the top side of the board or two smaller 0.1″-spaced holes along the sides of the board. For applications drawing more than 5 A, you should either use the large holes or both 0.1″-spaced holes for each power connection.

Two 8-pin straight breakaway male headers and two 2-pin 5mm terminal blocks are included with each switch, and you can choose which of these components, if any, to solder to the board. The terminal blocks work with the four large holes, and the header strips allow the switch to be used with solderless breadboards and perforated circuit boards with standard 0.1″ spacing. If you want to use the terminal blocks, we recommend you install them on the side of the board without components, as shown in the above breadboard picture. The terminal blocks will cover one of each of the smaller VIN and VOUT holes, so you should not solder header pins into those holes if you plan on using terminal blocks.

Note:The terminal blocks are only rated for 16 A, so for higher-power applications, thick wires should be soldered directly to the board.

Thermal and power dissipation considerations

MOSFETs in the on state are effectively resistive, the power heating the board is proportional to the square of the current flowing through it. The comparison table near the top of this page shows typical currents that heat the MOSFETs to 55°C, where the MOSFETs start being noticeably warm but are still generally safe to touch, and currents that heat the MOSFETs to 150°C, the absolute limit for the MOSFETs. With adequate cooling, or for brief periods if the MOSFETs are not hot to begin with, currents up to the listed maximums are attainable.

Transient protection

Interrupting large currents can cause voltage spikes (positive on the input side and negative on the output side) that depend on the inductance of the power connections and that can exceed the limits of the device. Appropriate measures to limit the size of these spikes include minimizing lengths of wires, placing capacitors at the power switch to smooth the spikes and absorb some of the energy, placing a schottky diode across the power output to absorb negative spikes, and placing a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) across the power input to absorb positive spikes.

Characteristics at limits of operating range

The switch operating range is limited by the ability to change state reliably. At low voltages, the switch is difficult to turn on, and the switch will turn itself off once the voltage falls far enough (this can happen as high as 4.5 V). At high voltages, the switches are more likely to turn on when power is initially applied. The reliability of turning off is affected by a combination of the supply voltage, the amount of bouncing on the pushbutton switch, and the amount of noise on the supply line. For applications at the high end of the operating range, tests should be performed to ensure that the device can properly turn off.